Policy and Performance
We are responsible for supporting community groups, partnerships,
voluntary organisations, Town and Parish Councils. We deal with consultation
and community planning, give Councillors the information they need to make policy
decisions, monitor performance and report back to local people. We work with others
to ensure local people are involved in the future of their communities and their priorities are reflected
in the way the Council allocates resources.
We assess the housing needs of the District including:
- New housing, including affordable housing
for local people;
- Housing and related services for vulnerable
people;
- Improvements to and energy efficiency
of all the housing
stock.
We work with a wide range of partners -
in particular housing associations, parish and town councils, health and social
services - to develop a strategy to meet these needs. We consult everyone with an interest when developing
the strategy and monitor and review it regularly.
We work with a range of partners to improve and promote community
safety in the District.
Rural Economy
We provide assistance, advice (including advice on sources of funding)
for businesses
and community enterprises in North Dorset. We are happy to help with enquiries about land and premises,
sources of grant aid, business advice, skills and training or other issues affecting the economy of
the District. We hold databases of local businesses, premises, redundant buildings and general
statistics. We work with other agencies to provide free courses on starting a business, subsidised training
for businesses. We also support four local
partnerships in the regeneration of their areas.
Environment
We work with residents, town and parish councils and the County Council
on issues relating to both the built and natural environment, including:
Planning Policy
Our main role is to prepare and keep up-to-date the policies on which
decisions about future development in the District are made. The District Wide Local Plan,
adopted in 2003, is the current plan for this purpose. Other areas of work include:
- Introducing the Government’s new approach to forward planning
- the Local Development Framework within North Dorset.
- Working
with local communities on their Community Plans and Parish Plans.
- Liaising
with County and Regional bodies on their plans and strategies for future development.
- Monitoring
the amount and type of development that takes place to ensure that it accords with current plans.
We deal with…
- Consultation - ensuring that we take
into account the views of local people and others with an interest in our work.
- Public
Relations - protecting the reputation of the
Council, keeping people informed and highlighting the Council's achievements.
- Media
Relations - maintaining effective two-way communication
with all the media.
- E-communication - making
the best use of electronic
methods to communicate with local people, staff, members and other interested parties.
- Corporate
Branding - ensuring there is a consistent
brand and style across the Council.
- Internal
Communication - ensuring staff and Councillors
are kept informed and have the chance to express their views.
North Dorset represents rural England at its best. With historic
market towns, picturesque villages and large areas of countryside sitting within two Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, the area is an outstanding recreational and ‘getting away from it all’ venue. We promote
North Dorset, both standing alone and in partnership with neighbouring districts in Dorset, as a short
break holiday destination to visitors, as well as a place of pride for local people. We
operate
two tourist information centres, produce an all-colour visitor guide backed up by targeted and monitored
national and international marketing campaigns, and produce various leaflets on our towns and
countryside. We also offer advice and training for people who run or intend to run tourism businesses.
Culture and Sustainability
We deal with...
- Arts Development: developing, promoting
and enhancing arts and cultural activity through training, fundraising support and grant assistance,
helping organise events.
- Local Agenda 21:
promoting sustainability and working with community groups to promote environmental awareness, helping
organise specific events.
- Recycling: promoting
the recycling message, including work in schools, providing kerbside recycling and mini recycling centres,
working with community groups and offering bulk recycling facilities.
- Sports
Development: We encourage participation and promote social inclusion for all ages through a range
of sport and recreation opportunities. Raising the profile of leisure within the District and increasing
access to facilities and activities. Supporting clubs, groups and individuals through advice, good practice
and funding opportunities allowing development in their chosen sport. Improve the quality of life for
people in North Dorset by delivery of healthy activities and positive promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Research and Information
Best Value requires councils to deliver services
in the most economic, efficient and effective way they can. We must aim for continuous improvement and
set ourselves challenging targets. Councils can be compared with each other through performance
indicators, which we all publish in our annual Best Value Performance Plan and summary.
Best Value revolves around applying the four C's:
- Challenge the way we approach our services;
- Consult
local people and stakeholders and monitor their satisfaction;
- Compare
our services against those of other councils and other providers;
- Compete
with external providers to check our services are cost-effective.
Information Technology
Anite Public Sector is our partner in providing
IT services.
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